| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
" \- Prof. Jonez©" |
| Date: |
25 Aug 2005 06:10:00 PM |
| Object: |
Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
64-cent hike in cigarette levy may be nudging some to kick habit
Feeling new tax's burn
Cities and counties, however, are experiencing hefty drops in their
cigarette-tax revenue. Some say more smokers are buying online.
By John Ingold
Denver Post Staff Writer
DenverPost.com
Since Colorado's 64-cent cigarette-tax increase took effect in January,
sales have declined so much that many cities and counties are experiencing
double-digit drops in cigarette-tax revenue.
The new tax is large enough that the state still collected $70 million
more from cigarettes during the first seven months of this year than last,
according to state figures.
But cities and counties, which get only a slim cut of money from the new
tax, have seen drops, typically in the tens of thousands of dollars, in the
amount of money they receive from cigarette taxes.
The losses range from 7 percent in Lakewood to 40 percent in
unincorporated Jefferson County. Of 23 metro- area cities and counties surveyed,
only one, Arapahoe County, is experiencing an increase in cigarette-tax revenue
this year over last.
The figures are the clearest indication yet that the 64-cent-a-pack tax
increase that voters approved in November has had an impact.
But what kind of impact is it?
"We think it's too early to tell," said Bruce Atchison, the executive vice
president of the Colorado Children's Campaign, one of the groups that led the
charge last year for the new tax. "But certainly if these trends continue,
that's probably a good sign that fewer people are smoking."
In fact, there are numerous theories about why cities and counties have
seen a drop in cigarette-tax revenue. For one, smoking in Colorado has been
declining for the past several years, and some smokers may have been pushed to
quit by the higher prices.
It could be that, as some have suggested, smokers started stockpiling
cigarettes in late 2004 in anticipation of the higher prices in 2005. And the
man who led the campaign against the new cigarette tax believes that more
smokers are circumventing the tax by ordering online or through the mail.
For more than a decade, Colorado has had a 20-cent-a-pack tax on
cigarettes. When voters approved the additional 64-cent-a-pack tax last year,
the 20-cent tax stayed in place.
In the first seven months of 2005, the state collected about $23.7 million
from that 20-cent tax, compared with $30.8 million for the same period last
year, a 23 percent decrease. Revenue from the 20-cent tax has been falling for
the past decade, but in earlier years, the decreases were in the 2 to 5 percent
range, state Department of Revenue officials said.
Local governments receive 27 percent of the 20-cent tax. The state also
will give about 3 percent of the 64-cent tax to cities and counties.
For metro-area cities and counties, the drop in revenue this year won't
require any significant budget cuts. Any loss of money hurts, many city
officials said, but in Aurora, for instance, cigarette-tax revenue makes up only
one half of 1 percent of the city's revenue.
"I don't think it's been a significant enough reduction that it's caused
us any pain as far as having to cut any programs," said Sabrina Henderson, a
spokeswoman for the city of Golden. "I don't think we rely significantly on this
revenue coming in. Every penny helps, though."
In Adams County, losses from cigarette-tax revenue will probably be
matched by unexpected revenue gains in other areas, said Budget Manager Ben
Dahlman.
Sam Mamet, the associate director of the Colorado Municipal League, said
state officials foresaw such a decline in money going to cities and counties,
which is why local governments were given a cut of the new tax.
But in cities such as Lakewood, which is in the midst of a budget crisis,
the dip stings a little more.
"This revenue stream is close to half a million dollars," said Lakewood
spokeswoman Stacie Oulton. "That's a sizeable revenue stream for us. To have a
revenue stream that size drop, it does affect us. It does hurt, particularly
since Lakewood has been in the position of cutting the budget for five years in
a row."
Others have felt burned by the new tax.
At Brian Maeng's smoke shop in Aurora, Super Cigarettes, sales are down
about 15 percent from a year ago. He said many customers have chosen to buy
cheaper cigarettes. And Maeng, who said he makes about a 4 percent profit on a
$3 pack or a $30 carton, is worried about his business' future.
"More taxes kill the small businesses," he said.
Across the street at Cigarette Mart, owner Huey Tran said he has also seen
a decrease in sales.
"It's lower than usual," Tran said. "But most people have a habit to
smoke. They just pay more. It has really hurt their budget."
Wilson Croom, who helped lead a group opposing the tax last year, said
some business won't return. He suspects many people are going online or finding
other ways to skirt the tax.
"It's too easy for people to find sources to not have to pay that tax," he
said. "There's no way to quantify that, but it has to be happening."
However, such is the nature of this early speculating on the impact of the
new cigarette tax that even smokers can't agree on how it has affected them.
Standing outside Tran's smoke shop, Golden resident Opal Gullickson called
the new tax a "money cow." Inside the store, Aurora resident Jodie Forney said,
"It's about as bad as gas prices. ... I'm about ready to quit smoking because of
it."
But not Michael Deanda. Deanda said he had worried that the new tax would
cost him more money, but then he found Tran's shop, which he said sells
cigarettes for less than he had been paying.
So, it would seem, when it comes to the state's new cigarette tax, the
impact is still a bit hazy.
"It will be interesting to see how the next several months come out,"
Adams County's Dahlman said.
.
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
26 Aug 2005 05:14:02 PM |
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Austin Kaiser wrote:
I hate to be the one to point this out to you, Prof. Jonez, but we
don't smoke cigarettes.
Loose tobacco is next ...
Fucking moron.
Addict.
AK
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| User: "Spirit&Opportunity" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
26 Aug 2005 05:56:30 PM |
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In article <OuMPe.86$WY6.12121@news.uswest.net>,
" \"- Prof. Jonez©\"" <jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
Addict.
jonez, have you ever smoked? How much and for how long?
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
27 Aug 2005 06:14:28 PM |
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Bruce Watson wrote:
In article <lhctg1127njs0v8cr37cl8fhpujhe50kou@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 26 Aug 2005 03:10:33 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
In article <n3vsg1telf5qi0hbk12fja7odvsv95e0u8@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
The internet price is $32/carton.
Today I saw a box containing a case of cigarettes.
There are 30 cartons to a case. Everyone should know there
are 10 packs to a carton.
It was a brown cardboard box not as decorative as a carton
but did have the brand and manufacturers lettering on it.
It was a little smaller than a case of wine.
A thousand bucks.
The 6,000 cigarettes in it weighed about 6,000 grams, a little over
10 pounds. What other comestible costs a hundred dollars per pound?
I can think of only a few, none of which are mass produced.
Proof positive that cigarettes are 'special'. :)
Rich tobacco executives agree.
So does my stock portfolio !
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
26 Aug 2005 10:49:20 AM |
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Bruce Watson wrote:
In article <n3vsg1telf5qi0hbk12fja7odvsv95e0u8@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
The internet price is $32/carton.
Today I saw a box containing a case of cigarettes.
There are 30 cartons to a case. Everyone should know there
are 10 packs to a carton.
It was a brown cardboard box not as decorative as a carton
but did have the brand and manufacturers lettering on it.
It was a little smaller than a case of wine.
A thousand bucks.
So a big-rig full of those is what, half a million $$ ?
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
26 Aug 2005 02:04:56 PM |
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Robert Wagner wrote:
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 09:49:20 -0600, " \"- Prof. Jonez©\""
<jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
Bruce Watson wrote:
In article <n3vsg1telf5qi0hbk12fja7odvsv95e0u8@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
The internet price is $32/carton.
Today I saw a box containing a case of cigarettes.
There are 30 cartons to a case. Everyone should know there
are 10 packs to a carton.
It was a brown cardboard box not as decorative as a carton
but did have the brand and manufacturers lettering on it.
It was a little smaller than a case of wine.
A thousand bucks.
So a big-rig full of those is what, half a million $$ ?
A semi trailer holds 3,600 cubic feet. A carton of 100mm cigarettes
measures .05 cubic feet. Assuming 80% packing efficiency and $50 per
carton: (3600 / .05) * .8 * 50 =$2.9M.
Damn! -- you'd think there'd be more hijackings/missing shipments at those
numbers, eh?
.
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
27 Aug 2005 06:15:57 PM |
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Robert Wagner wrote:
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 13:04:56 -0600, " \"- Prof. Jonez©\""
<jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
Robert Wagner wrote:
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 09:49:20 -0600, " \"- Prof. Jonez©\""
<jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
Bruce Watson wrote:
In article <n3vsg1telf5qi0hbk12fja7odvsv95e0u8@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
The internet price is $32/carton.
Today I saw a box containing a case of cigarettes.
There are 30 cartons to a case. Everyone should know there
are 10 packs to a carton.
It was a brown cardboard box not as decorative as a carton
but did have the brand and manufacturers lettering on it.
It was a little smaller than a case of wine.
A thousand bucks.
So a big-rig full of those is what, half a million $$ ?
A semi trailer holds 3,600 cubic feet. A carton of 100mm
cigarettes measures .05 cubic feet. Assuming 80% packing
efficiency and $50 per carton: (3600 / .05) * .8 * 50 =$2.9M.
Damn! -- you'd think there'd be more hijackings/missing shipments
at those numbers, eh?
The only businesses who'd ship a trailer full of cigarettes are
manufacturers. A pre-tax carton costs about $5-6, so a full trailer
is worth $300,000.
Thieves' favorite target is meat. They'll hide one box out of ten. If
the supermarket doesn't check receipts, the truck driver sells it on
the black market.
All theft, including theft by checkout clerks 'sliding' merchandise
for their friends, can be detected by statistical analysis. Once
detected, we install cameras. When confronted by the photographic
evidence, the thieves quickly cave. They usually give back the money
they stole.
Got any cameras trained on Haliburton?
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
28 Aug 2005 03:23:54 PM |
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Bruce Watson wrote:
In article <t032h19tbf8thrhqaic2gt5of063iqtgea@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 27 Aug 2005 22:35:58 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
In article <lhctg1127njs0v8cr37cl8fhpujhe50kou@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 26 Aug 2005 03:10:33 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
In article <n3vsg1telf5qi0hbk12fja7odvsv95e0u8@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
The internet price is $32/carton.
Today I saw a box containing a case of cigarettes.
There are 30 cartons to a case. Everyone should know there
are 10 packs to a carton.
It was a brown cardboard box not as decorative as a carton
but did have the brand and manufacturers lettering on it.
It was a little smaller than a case of wine.
A thousand bucks.
The 6,000 cigarettes in it weighed about 6,000 grams, a little
over 10 pounds. What other comestible costs a hundred dollars
per pound? I can think of only a few, none of which are mass
produced.
Proof positive that cigarettes are 'special'. :)
Rich tobacco executives agree.
Pharmaceutical executives laugh at $100/lb. Amgen's Enbril sells for
more than $3,000 per pound, and you have to take it for the rest of
your life.
Enbril treats rheumatoid arthritis.
What does nicotine do?
Treats stupid tobacco addicts.
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| User: "Bruce Watson" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
28 Aug 2005 06:18:14 PM |
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Bruce Watson wrote:
In article <t032h19tbf8thrhqaic2gt5of063iqtgea@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 27 Aug 2005 22:35:58 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
In article <lhctg1127njs0v8cr37cl8fhpujhe50kou@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 26 Aug 2005 03:10:33 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
In article <n3vsg1telf5qi0hbk12fja7odvsv95e0u8@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
The internet price is $32/carton.
Today I saw a box containing a case of cigarettes.
There are 30 cartons to a case. Everyone should know there
are 10 packs to a carton.
It was a brown cardboard box not as decorative as a carton
but did have the brand and manufacturers lettering on it.
It was a little smaller than a case of wine.
A thousand bucks.
The 6,000 cigarettes in it weighed about 6,000 grams, a little
over 10 pounds. What other comestible costs a hundred dollars
per pound? I can think of only a few, none of which are mass
produced.
Proof positive that cigarettes are 'special'. :)
Rich tobacco executives agree.
Pharmaceutical executives laugh at $100/lb. Amgen's Enbril sells for
more than $3,000 per pound, and you have to take it for the rest of
your life.
Enbril treats rheumatoid arthritis.
What does nicotine do?
Treats stupid tobacco addicts.
Trick or treat?
.
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
30 Aug 2005 10:07:47 AM |
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Bruce Watson wrote:
Bruce Watson wrote:
In article <t032h19tbf8thrhqaic2gt5of063iqtgea@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 27 Aug 2005 22:35:58 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
In article <lhctg1127njs0v8cr37cl8fhpujhe50kou@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 26 Aug 2005 03:10:33 GMT, (Bruce
Watson) wrote:
In article <n3vsg1telf5qi0hbk12fja7odvsv95e0u8@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
The internet price is $32/carton.
Today I saw a box containing a case of cigarettes.
There are 30 cartons to a case. Everyone should know there
are 10 packs to a carton.
It was a brown cardboard box not as decorative as a carton
but did have the brand and manufacturers lettering on it.
It was a little smaller than a case of wine.
A thousand bucks.
The 6,000 cigarettes in it weighed about 6,000 grams, a
little over 10 pounds. What other comestible costs a
hundred dollars per pound? I can think of only a few, none
of which are mass produced.
Proof positive that cigarettes are 'special'. :)
Rich tobacco executives agree.
Pharmaceutical executives laugh at $100/lb. Amgen's Enbril
sells for more than $3,000 per pound, and you have to take it
for the rest of your life.
Enbril treats rheumatoid arthritis.
What does nicotine do?
Treats stupid tobacco addicts.
Trick or treat?
LOL!
.
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
26 Aug 2005 10:50:26 AM |
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Robert Wagner wrote:
On 26 Aug 2005 03:10:33 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
In article <n3vsg1telf5qi0hbk12fja7odvsv95e0u8@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
The internet price is $32/carton.
Today I saw a box containing a case of cigarettes.
There are 30 cartons to a case. Everyone should know there
are 10 packs to a carton.
It was a brown cardboard box not as decorative as a carton
but did have the brand and manufacturers lettering on it.
It was a little smaller than a case of wine.
A thousand bucks.
The 6,000 cigarettes in it weighed about 6,000 grams, a little over 10
pounds. What other comestible costs a hundred dollars per pound? I can
think of only a few, none of which are mass produced.
Caviar?
Fine wine?
Truffles?
Viagra?
Proof positive that cigarettes are 'special'. :)
.
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
26 Aug 2005 10:46:37 AM |
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Robert Wagner wrote:
On 26 Aug 2005 03:11:20 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
Robert Wagner wrote:
<jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
It could be that, as some have suggested, smokers started
stockpiling cigarettes in late 2004 in anticipation of the
higher prices in 2005. And the man who led the campaign
against the new cigarette tax believes that more smokers are
circumventing the tax by ordering online or through the mail.
The internet price is $32/carton. People who pay more are
stupid. My favorite site is the SECURE cigarettesexpress.com.
Criminal Tax Evader!
Soon to be asked to pay those taxes.
Bureaucrats don't ask. They think civility is a sign of weakness. They
ORDER and DEMAND, then they COMPEL. I'm SO scared. Think I'll make
America's Most Wanted?
Sorry Robert, no one wants a tobacco addict ...
.
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
30 Aug 2005 09:53:06 AM |
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Robert Wagner wrote:
On 29 Aug 2005 02:17:01 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
In article <tdo4h1tu75ingu58pdrtrd6hevrkk25gem@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 28 Aug 2005 19:13:02 GMT, (Bruce Watson)
wrote:
In article <t032h19tbf8thrhqaic2gt5of063iqtgea@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 27 Aug 2005 22:35:58 GMT, (Bruce
Watson)
wrote:
In article <lhctg1127njs0v8cr37cl8fhpujhe50kou@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
On 26 Aug 2005 03:10:33 GMT, (Bruce
Watson) wrote:
In article <n3vsg1telf5qi0hbk12fja7odvsv95e0u8@4ax.com>,
Robert Wagner <spamblocker-robert@wagner.net> wrote:
The internet price is $32/carton.
Today I saw a box containing a case of cigarettes.
There are 30 cartons to a case. Everyone should know
there
are 10 packs to a carton.
It was a brown cardboard box not as decorative as a
carton
but did have the brand and manufacturers lettering on
it.
It was a little smaller than a case of wine.
A thousand bucks.
The 6,000 cigarettes in it weighed about 6,000 grams, a
little over 10 pounds. What other comestible costs a
hundred dollars per pound? I can think of only a few,
none of which are mass produced.
Proof positive that cigarettes are 'special'. :)
Rich tobacco executives agree.
Pharmaceutical executives laugh at $100/lb. Amgen's Enbrel
sells for more than $3,000 per pound, and you have to take it
for the rest of your life.
Enbrel treats rheumatoid arthritis.
Enbrel relieves the symptoms of autoimmune disorders by
suppressing
the patient's immune system. This increases the risk of infection
by
TB and sepsis, and the risk of neoplasms such as lymphoma and skin
cancer.
Arthritis sufferers probably consider long-term cancer risk
secondary to the pain and immobility they experience today.
What does nicotine do?
It's induces cancer for less money.
Emphysema and heart disease, too.
What benefits does it have except enriching tobacco executives?
Improves concentration -- decision-making speed and accuracy.
Relieves the affect of stress.
Relieves depression.
Heroin does the same thing for those suffering withdraw ...
.
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
26 Aug 2005 10:48:28 AM |
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Robert Wagner wrote:
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 20:28:06 -0600, " \"- Prof. Jonez©\""
<jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
Robert Wagner wrote:
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 17:10:00 -0600, " \"- Prof. Jonez©\""
<jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
It could be that, as some have suggested, smokers started
stockpiling cigarettes in late 2004 in anticipation of the
higher prices in 2005. And the man who led the campaign against
the new cigarette tax believes that more smokers are
circumventing the tax by ordering online or through the mail.
The internet price is $32/carton. People who pay more are stupid.
My favorite site is the SECURE cigarettesexpress.com.
Criminal Tax Evader!
Following the tradition, if not historic accuracy, of the Boston Tea
Party.
So you gonna dress up like an anti-Public-smoker and torch a cigarette
depository?
"Patriotism was invented a few hundred years ago to persuade
the common people of the virtue of fighting to defend the wealthy and
corrupt elite in their society. It is just tribalism by another name, a con
trick which has worked ever since."
---Scott U.K.
.
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| User: " \- Prof. Jonez©" |
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| Title: Re: Feel the BURN! - Colorado 64 cent tax increase on cigs ! |
26 Aug 2005 02:03:52 PM |
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Robert Wagner wrote:
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 09:48:28 -0600, " \"- Prof. Jonez©\""
<jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
Robert Wagner wrote:
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 20:28:06 -0600, " \"- Prof. Jonez©\""
<jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
Robert Wagner wrote:
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 17:10:00 -0600, " \"- Prof. Jonez©\""
<jonez@norcom.ca> wrote:
It could be that, as some have suggested, smokers
started stockpiling cigarettes in late 2004 in anticipation
of the higher prices in 2005. And the man who led the
campaign against the new cigarette tax believes that more
smokers are circumventing the tax by ordering online or
through the mail.
The internet price is $32/carton. People who pay more are
stupid. My favorite site is the SECURE cigarettesexpress.com.
Criminal Tax Evader!
Following the tradition, if not historic accuracy, of the Boston
Tea Party.
So you gonna dress up like an anti-Public-smoker and torch a
cigarette depository?
Good idea. I'll order the costume from L.L. Bean and look for a place
that rents BMWs.
Yep, non-smokers tend to be more successful than tobacco addicts ...
.
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